I've never been out there. Do you have to drive to it, or is it reasonable walk?

It's a bit of a walk, probably 1/2 mile or more depending on where you start from. But of course that's walking on rough, snow covered ice so it's a hard walk. As for driving, you should be find right now._________________Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

Went out there with Rustynails. I'm glad you brought this up - I've meant to get out there forever and today was a beautiful day to get out there. We ended up driving out from the landing across the road from Haskell's. I think we saw the area that had the fire, but to be honest, there wasn't any visible signs of fire. We were more interested in getting to the next GZ that looking for signs of fire, so we might just have missed it.

Change of subject, but something that came up on the way off the lake. Is there some significance to Christmas trees out on a lake? I saw one out there, and a whole ring of them out on some other lake recently.

Change of subject, but something that came up on the way off the lake. Is there some significance to Christmas trees out on a lake? I saw one out there, and a whole ring of them out on some other lake recently.

Generally, no. People just dump them on the ice. Sometimes people will put them on the ice to help mark roads or structures. Some towns do have bon fires on the ice with old Christmas trees, but in most cases it's just trash._________________Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.

Long Lake has there "Sno-ball Open" think it was two or three weeks ago, and they use old christmas trees to mark the fairways on a golf course. Yeah, golfing on a frozen lake, typically with yellow tennis balls. Each hole typically sponsored by a local business, great fun..._________________round n' round we go!

Change of subject, but something that came up on the way off the lake. Is there some significance to Christmas trees out on a lake? I saw one out there, and a whole ring of them out on some other lake recently.

Generally, no. People just dump them on the ice. Sometimes people will put them on the ice to help mark roads or structures. Some towns do have bon fires on the ice with old Christmas trees, but in most cases it's just trash.

Another reason might be for a fisherman wanting to add structure "the trees" to bottom of the lake where there may not be any. Fallen trees on the bottom of the lake are great for fishing. If someone were to put some trees on the ice before it melts, and then mark the spot with a gps, they may have their own private little hot spot for fishing._________________"There is a pleasure in the pathless woods..." - Lord Byron

From the Ice Fishing point of view the trees are sometimes put out to mark a weak area in the ice, or to mark the location where someone was spearing fish (3'x4' hole in the ice) they are required to mark their holes.
But you won't find any spearing on Minnetonka.

From the Ice Fishing point of view the trees are sometimes put out to mark a weak area in the ice, or to mark the location where someone was spearing fish (3'x4' hole in the ice) they are required to mark their holes.

There is no law requiring the marking of holes.

sapalas wrote:

But you won't find any spearing on Minnetonka.

Spearing is not allowed on Minnetonka but large holes are still cut for underwater viewing and ice diving.

Another reason might be for a fisherman wanting to add structure "the trees" to bottom of the lake where there may not be any. Fallen trees on the bottom of the lake are great for fishing. If someone were to put some trees on the ice before it melts, and then mark the spot with a gps, they may have their own private little hot spot for fishing.

The ice melts from the shore first and then shifts, buckles, heaves, crumbles and the debris that is deposited on the lake bed will be nowhere near the coordinates that were taken from solid ice.

The ice melts from the shore first and then shifts, buckles, heaves, crumbles and the debris that is deposited on the lake bed will be nowhere near the coordinates that were taken from solid ice.

Besides if it's along a river the ice will move way down stream before it actually breaks up enough for the tree to go to the bottom. The way this year is it might even end up in someones back yard?_________________King of the Jeff Gordon TB's!
They put that cache WHERE?

From Henn Co Sheriffs Office:
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is urging people to use caution on all bodies of water due to thinning ice conditions.

Over the weekend, the Sheriff’s Office responded to three separate incidents in the Lake Minnetonka area. Two snowmobiles drove into open water and a backhoe fell through thin ice.

Among the areas of concern:
• There is thinning ice or open water in the channels of Lake Minnetonka.
• The Crow River is dangerous and should be avoided due to extremely thin ice.
• Small bodies of water, such as rivers, ponds and creeks are a hazard and should be avoided.

When ice is less than two inches thick, no one should attempt to walk on it.

Parents: Keep children away from thin ice. If your child is near the ice, you should be near your child.

Pet owners: Keep your dog on a leash and do not chase after a dog that wanders onto the ice.